Metal awning



Marchl. 1931. A, E sTENzr-:L

METAL AWNING 'enze Z fue Filed June l2.

Patented Mu. 1o, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT oFElcE AMOS E. STENZEL, OF WHITTIEB, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR F ONE-FOURTH T0 PAUL G. I

RITTER, 0NEFOURTH, T0 CHARLES R. WELSH, BOTH 0F LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, AND ONE-FOURTH T0 JULIAN A. RACHAL, OF BAKERSFIELD, CALIFORNIA METAL AWNTNG Application led June 12,

This invention relates to awnings comprising strips of sheet metal hinged together and raised and lowered by a running cord; and it includes the novel construction and arrange- 5 ment of the sheet metal strips, and their cornbination with each other and with the running cord.

- An object of this invention is to provide a simple construction, arrangement and combination of parts for forming an imperforate sheet metal awnin of the character stated that is adapted, W en raised by the cord, to-fold in minimum space compactly against'the window frame or other support to which the awning is connected and that is constructed and arranged to be returned by `gravity directly when the cord isloosened, but v tov be held securely erect with 4only slight tension on the cord. Y

A feature of the invention is that the hinged strips are constructed of diiferent widths so arranged that when the awning is up, its hinges will be at diierent heights and will not interfere with each other to increase' the projection of the folded device, from the face of the support.

An object is to provide a cheap, light, easily built, easily assembled and easily installed at. tractive metal awning for doors, windows, porches, garden houses and tent frames and found desirable.

Further objects are strength, stability, noiselessness anti-rattling construction, and tight connection with the face of the building to prevent water from flowing down between the awning and such face.

A feature of the invention is the provision of horizontal strips of sheet metal having fiat return-folds to stiifen and strengthen the body of the awning canopy and to protect against lealcing at the canop joints. j

An advantage is the adapta ility to manufacture by light and simple machinery.

In this invention I am able to provide for great strength of awning madeof thin and consequently easilIy bent sheet steel or otherv sheet metal, and have provided at each of the hinge joints between successive strips, a 50 direct return bend and a flat return fold or for such other structures and uses as may be 192e. 'serial No. 370,287.

ply, terminating in hinge eyes space apart to receive between them, hlnge eyes of the meeting edge of an adjacent strip, and a pintle uniting the eyes and assisting in strengthening the joint and making it practically inflexible except around the pintle for folding and for extension.

A further feature of the invention is the provision, at the canopy ends of running connections for the flexible cord for folding the awning, so that there will be^ no unsightly obtrusion on the view, of means for adjusting the awning.

In this respect the hinge pintles are eXtended beyond the ends of the hinges and are bent into eyes through which the cord may be run, or in which rings may be linked to receive such cords.

Other objects, advantages and features of invention may appear from the accompanying drawings, the subjoined detailed description and the appended claims.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the p r invention.

art of the awning when lowered as shown 1n Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a fragmental detail of the construction at' one end of the cross bar of the awning as shown in Fig. 1, such cross bar ofthe frame being in section. l

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmental, elevational detail of an awning mounted in place on a window frame and folded.

Fig. 7 isan elevation in section on line m7, Fig. 6, looking inthe direction of the arrows.

Fig.` 8 is a section at the upper joint when the awning is lowered.

Fig. 9 is a fragmental section analogous to Fig. 8, showing two of the hinge joints.

that shown at the upper part of Fig. 9.

The rings for forming the running connection between the awning hinge joints and the awning cord, are shown raised to avoid confusion of lines.

The awning canopy as shown, comprises a series of thin sheet metal pieces as at 1, 2, 3, 4, .5, forming head, foot and intermediate strips, provided with flat return-folds or laps 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11. For the larger awnings, the return-fold members forming the laps may be held together by spot-Welding, as at a in Fig. 9, or by rivets as at a in Fig. 4; but in the narrower awnings such welding and riveting is found to'be ordinarilyl unnecessary for such places.

I have found that in the construction shown; galvanized sheet metal of 28 gage aiords ample strength, and that such slight thickness of metal is desirable on account of its lightness and the ease with which it may be bent tight and flat upon itself.

The uppermost lap 6 of the head section 1 is arranged to lie flat againstthe face of the window frame 12 or other part of a building onto which the awning is applied, and is secured thereto by suitable means as wood screws 13; and is made water-tight by a coating of white lead paste 14. Each of the laps 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 is provided at its edge with an eye b for the pintles, as at 15, 16 and 17; and in some instances the pintles may, and in others may not be provided at their ends with eyes asat 18, 19.

The awning cord 20 is shown rove through pulley blocks 21, 21', supported by hooks 22 fixed to the building; and the ends of the cord may be run through loops 18 formed by bending the projecting ends of the pintles 16, and may be fixed to the eyes 19 of the footI pintle 17.

`Preferably after the pintles 16 are run through the hinge eyes, and before the projecting ends are bent, they are run through pulley rings 23 and are then bent into loops so the rings are linked therewith and serve as pulleys through which the ends of the cord are passed on their way to the loops 19, to which such ends are fixed.

The cord 2O may be thin wire cable, or may I be connections of any appropriate flexible character.

In the drawings only one intermediate pintle is shown provided with a ring, but it is understoodthat the number of pintles employedI depends on the number of strips, and each of such pintles may be provided at each end with the pulley or running ring; ordinarily such rings are provided for every other joint of the canopy. i

The frame at the bottom of the lowered awning is of a well known construction comprising the two side arms 24 and the cross arm 25 which may be of gas pipe connected Vtogether by a T pipe fitting 26 into which thev side arms 24 and 25 are screwed; and ornamental tips 27 are shown screwed into the T pipe-fitting to give a inished appearance to the frame.

The side arms are provided with hinge fittings 28 that are pivoted to brackets 29 on the building.

The head section 1 has a longitudinal obtuse bend as at 30 so that its flat upper and lower wings terminating in the return folds 6 and 7 are in langular relation to each other; and the angle is such that when the upper wing as at 6 is flat against the upright wall 12, the lower wing as at 7 will have an outward and downward slope practically corresponding to the pitch of the lowered screen, f

as indicated by the broken lines in Fig. 7; and the lower fold 7 may be wide enough to project beyond sections ofthe awning to discharge the drip clear beyond such sections.

'Ihe foot section 2 is shown journalled to the crossbar 25 by loops 31 of sheet metal which may be fixed to the foot section by any suitable means as by rivets as at a in Figs. 4 and 7, or by spot welding, as may be preferred.

In practical manufacture the strips with their eyes may all be made by machinery, not shown in the drawings, and may then be appropriately joined edge to edge and secured by the pintles, the appropriate ones of which will be provided at one end with an eye and a ring held thereby, and will be of a length greater than the width` of the awning; and after the pintles are run through the hinge eyes they are to unite, the protruding ends may be inserted through rings and then bent into loops to hold the rings.

It is understood however that if the rings are not available, the cord may be passed directly through the loops; but such arrangement is not shown in the drawings, and the form shown is preferred because the cord runs more smoothly.

It is seen from the foregoing that the awning may be made by hand or by machinery in modes of operation well understood by those skilled in the art of working with sheet metal; the strips being appropriately notched at opposite edges in off-set manner as is common in leaf hinges, so that the hinge forming tonguesof one edge of a strip will fit in the notches of the meeting edge of an adjacent strip, and so on.

To raise the awning the cord will be drawn down in the usual way and wound around the keeper 32.

To lower the screen the operation is reversed.

The drape 33 may be of-any desired pattern and is hinged to the foot section 2 by the lower pintle 17.

The strips may-be ornamented in any desired manner as by the striping shown, and this may be applied by painting, enameling or otherwise, either before or after the strips are on the convex side of the strip so that when v the upper fold is fastened against an upright support the seams will be at the convex side of the head strip, and the hinge for the lower fold will be accommodated between the lower fold and the upright support, and one or more succeeding hinges belowwill extend under cover of said lower fold; the terminals of one yor more of the pintles projecting beyond the edges of the strips and bent to form loops for the purposeof making connection with a running cord for raising and lowering the awning.

2. In an awning comprising 'sheet metal strips having hinge eyes at their edges; a pintle to pivot the eyes to ether; said pintle extending beyond the en s of the strips and being provided. with loops for connection with the running cord for raising the awning.

3, In an awning composed of sheet metal strips, a head stri lower return-ben sand folds, and longitudinally bent between said folds from end to end so that when the top fold is fastened against a vertical support, t e lower fold will extend outwardly from said su port; the edge of the under fold being hinge to a lower strip and provision being thus made for accommodat--.

1n such hinge 1n the space between the lower fo d and such support.

4. vAn awnin comprising a series of parallel sheet meta strips provided with hinge loops at their edges; lpintles hinging said loops together; one of t e stri -ed es at each hin-ge being formed with a at ap return blen the upper edge of which formsa pint eeye.

5. The combination4 with sheet metal strips hinged together, of means for fastening Van up r strip to a support; av frame adapted to hinged to such a sup ort and to a lower strip; a ulley swung to t esupport; a cord connecte to the lower hinge and having a running connection with an intermediate hin and bent througbl:3 the pulley and depen ing therefrom to operated by hand;

and means hinging the lower strip to across? bar of the frame."

provided with upper and 6. An awning comprising stri s of sheet metal hinged together at their e ges and of different widths, and arranged'so that when thev awning is folded, the hinge portions will be at different levels'. I l 7. An awning comprising stri s of sheet metal hinged together at their e ges and of different widths so that when the awnin is folded up, the hinge portionsy will beat 'f- Aferent levels the head strip being longitudinally bent o liquely so that its Vvupper and lower wings will be in an ar relation to eachv other; the upper einghadapt'ed to be fixed against an u ri t in t e plane of ower hinges being in front of such plane. l In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Los Angeles, California, this. 6th day of June, 1929. i

' p AMOS E. STENZEL.

`ll!)A no' v 

